Updated links and weekend wrap up

This weekend turned out to be a decent one. I'm on the tail end of a cold that's kept me on the down low since about Wednesday. The worst day was Friday, as I didn't leave work until 6 p.m., got a quick dinner, and crashed early. I ended up missing the grand opening of this great, new music/teen venue in Grayslake that will, I think, be a great benefit to the local music community here in Lake County. Let's hope so.

Saturday, Lidia and I went to a friends birthday party that started at Bistro 17 in downtown Waukegan, and ended at Bacci's directly across the street after an impromptu bar hopping quest through all of the bars on Genesee street. It ended up being a good time, and it was nice to revisit the downtown area. You can see some of the photos I shot as events unfolded on my Twitter page here- look for the "twitpic.com" links.

I will say that Bistro 17 and Bacci's are great little gems resting on what Waukegan hopes will become a bustling Genesee street in the downtown area. Bistro 17 will be showcasing local blues and jazz acts in the upstairs lounge area, and I hear the food at Bacci's is to die for. Follow the links above for more info on these venues.

My running schedule has been in the dumps since last Wednesday due to this crazy weather and my annoying head cold. It will become even more complicated as I leave for El Paso, TX. on Monday for business until Wednesday. I'll have to squeeze in a couple of miles in the warm weather down there!

So that's my weekend wrap up. I've updated the links under "Friends" on my page along the right with links to blogs by friends of mine. I really enjoy reading them, and hope you do too:

• Biggie Handmade Goods
• Greg's iPhone Blog
• i only listen to death metal
• Through My Eyes
• Razor's Ride

I'll be sure to write next from the great state of Texas!

After today I will stop running...

Are you kidding me?

I got this from Heather's wonderful blog (thanks for the tip!)

I have finally found a way to be more productive and still keep healthy without running...

Check this out.

Who would of known these existed?

My goodness....

On second thought, I may keep running- far away from this thing!

Putting the spotlight on Lake County, IL

I'd like to take a few minutes to thank the folks over at the Lake County Visitors and Convention Bureau for publishing my review of the new Keylime Cove Water Resort to their blog space.

The LCVCB website does a great job of putting the spotlight on Lake County and all it has to offer. Even I haven't seen everything there is to see in the place I've called home for nearly all of my life.

Speaking of Illinois, I think I'm going to make it a goal to do more outdoorsy stuff in this state next year. I've really enjoyed going camping in Wisconsin, and do so at every opportunity. The Wisconsin state parks are a real treat to spend time in, but Illinois does an equal job of showcasing the outdoors, and I'd love to see more of it.

The furthest south I've been camping is Beaver Dam State Park in Macoupin County, IL. which is a nice little hideaway near the Illinois/Missouri border. The drive (which I love to do) gets a bit more scenic the further south in Illinois you go.

Oh, how I miss camping already. I just can't wait until I get to do it next.

Seven posts and counting

Well, I've made it to seven posts in a row for National Blog Posting Month- I'm hoping I can keep it up! It's been nice to sit down, relax, and write about what's on my mind for a few minutes.

I've been exposed to some really interesting people around the world as I'm scanning the various blogs participating in NaBloPoMo the past few days. In the past, I haven't been much attracted to personal blogs by people I don't know until just recently. I do wish that some of my friends would post more, or start up blogs so that I can read what they've been up to. It's not that I'm nosy or anything, it's just that most of them are such interesting people in real life, and a pleasure to be around, that it would be nice to read about what they've been up to.

One blog in particular that I've been following for close to three years now is On the Road With Larry and Teddy. This is a blog done by a rather tech-savvy retired couple who travel the U.S. in their RV, blogging about their experiences to keep their family up-to-date on where they've been, and what they're doing.

I've always dreamed about retiring in an RV, traveling the world with my future wife, and living out of a home that we can just pack up and move around. In following Larry and Teddy's blog, I live that life through their eyes, and dream about how it would be to do that. I don't know them personally, mind you, but I feel like I'm traveling with them- seeing the sights and meeting new faces.

I've linked up a few of my favorite NaBloPoMo blogs in my new "blogroll" that you'll find along the right side of this blog, just underneath the "Shared Feeds" section.

Until next time!

Thank You's and Congrats

I'd like to thank The Complete Running Network for including this website in their Running Blog Family of links. You can visit the site here or at this post here.

Speaking of running links, I've added a few of my own favorite running blog links in my Links section along the right side under the title Favorite Running Blogs:

• Great Lakes Running Gal
  
• KelsaLynn's Fitlog
• Not Born to Run
• The Out of Shape Guy
• Running Jayhawk
• Sara's Fitter Happier Healthier Blog

These blogs serve as inspiration to me to continue my new found love for running.

Lastly, congrats to my friend Lorena for finishing the 26.2 mile Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on Oct. 28!! She was one of the many who never got to finish the fiasco that was the 2007 Chicago Marathon and soon after booked a flight to Washington, DC. with a friend to finish what she started. Congrats! Wear that medal proudly!

Come to think of it, traveling for a weekend to somewhere (WARM) to run a race doesn't sound like a bad idea after all.